"...The face of the earth is changing so rapidly that soon, in temperate regions at any rate, there will be little of primitive Nature left. In the Old World it is practically gone for ever. Here, then is Stewart Island's prime advantage, and one hard to overestimate. It is an actual piece of the primeval world...."

" It is hard to speak of the scenery of Stewart Island without using a superabundance of superlatives...." Dr Leonard Cockayne, Botanist (reporting on Stewart Island in 1909).

See menu above or click here fo more information on Stewart Island and Ulva Island.

For unique experiences in small groups with personal attention from friendly professional guides, explore Ulva Island, Stewart Island and Rakiura National Park with Ruggedy Range™ Wilderness Experience. We aim to ensure that your visit is enjoyable and memorable.

We offer genuine natural history & bird watching trips, which come highly recommended. Informative commentary is provided on fauna, flora, conservation and Maori & European History relevant to each trip. There is something for everyone with trips to suit different interests and abilities.

Depending on the trip, we travel along bays, through primeval forests, wetlands, dunes and wild beaches, to sub-alpine tops with spectacular views and across crystal clear waters.... Our trips offer excellent photography opportunities.

Ruggedy Range™ Wilderness Experience began offering guided tours in Ulva Island and Stewart Island in 2000. Its foundation is based on over 17 years of local knowledge. Over the years, it has slowly developed its services to include Aihe Eco Charters & Water Taxi. Essentially it remains a very small business, owned and operated by Furhana (pictured in the centre). Seasonal staff assist during busy summer months.

Furhana is a key nature guide for the business and is passionate about Stewart Island, making it her home base. With a Bsc. Honours Geography degree, a varied background and first hand experience of other countries and cultures she has evolved a unique business providing a highly professional and personal service.

Ruggedy Range™ Wilderness Experience is proud to be Stewart Island wholly owned and operated.

We are delighted to host our clients of mixed professions and ages, who come from the different cultures and countries of the world, many have become friends.

Each category then has a summary of options. This will allow you to choose a tour based on your needs.

If you would like a complete package with travel and accommodation, this is also available. Customised options to suit your needs may also be arranged.

Please also check Whats on This Month and Special Offers.

Some Popular Tour
We believe all our tours are of the highest quality and offer something different. Some of our popular tours are shown below:
• Ulva Island - Birds & Forest is a must do for any visitor, bird watchers, plant enthusiasts and New Zealander's keen to learn about their country.
• Kiwi Journey a journey in the footsteps of kiwi to Mason Bay for night time kiwi viewing, with some rewarding daytime sightings.
• Coastal Highlights a fabulous full day tour starting with a wildlife and scenic boat cruise and followed by a coastal rainforest walk.
• Aihe Pelagic Birding - a boat cruise to watch magnificent albatross, penguins and other seabirds.
• Island Culture & Scenic Road Tour - sit back and relax for our highly informative and interactive road tour of Stewart Island.

Other Services
Stewart Island Travel & Activities: we operate a small Travel Agency (booking service for flight, ferry, accommodation and other activities).
Outdoor Adventure Shop
Aihe Eco Charters & Water Taxi
Shuttles Service
Birder's Nest™ Bed & Breakfast Backpackers: An old 1940's wooden house in the centre of Oban Village will be operating from winter / spring 2013 as a 5 bed backpackers.

Operating Season
Tours operate all year round and in winter with less frequency and subject to bookings. We are a small business and prior bookings before visiting Stewart Island are recommended all year round.

Environmental Responsiblity
To enjoy Stewart Island's peacefulness, rugged timeless beauty and natural wilderness environment is an absolute privilege and a reminder of what we have lost in much of the world.

We are committed to the environment and we donate some of our revenue per person participating on our tours or water taxi service, into a conservation fund to assist with conservation and research. We are also a member of the Sustainable Tourism South group and Qualmark licensed. We strive to operate in a responsible and caring way. See About Us for more information.

How to Book
For the best and most comprehensive advise on our tours and services, please contact us directly. We have so many options and can give you first hand advise - no one else knows our business like we do! (We do not operate through New Zealand I-Sites or Visitor Centres).

Call now (+64 3 219 1066) to speak to our friendly staff or send us an email. Please visit our office when in Stewart Island.

Note: We aim to reply to emails within 24 hours. If you do not receive a reply within 48 hours, it is highly likely that cyberspace is not working - if this is the case, please phone or fax your details and we will do our best to help.